Anamorphic greeting cards and other structural graphic pieces

ABSTRACT

A distorted or anamorphic image is placed on one panel of a foldable display card assembly and viewed as a normal image on curved collapsible mirror reflector supported by the other panels comprising the said card.

lJnited States Patent [191 Barnes, Jr. et a1.

[451 Sept. 10,1974

1 1 ANAMORPHIC GREETING CARDS AND OTHER STRUCTURAL GRAPHIC PIECES [75] Inventors: Clarence A. Barnes, Jr., New York,

N.Y.; Carl T. Chadsey, Jr., Greenwich, Conn.

[73] Assignee: Reflectomorphics Inc., New York,

22 Filed: Nov. 12, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 414,850

52 U.S.Cl. 40/124.1, 40/28 B, 40/130 B, 272/8M 51 Int. Cl. ..G09f1/00 [58] Field of Search... 40/160, 124.1, 126 A, 130 B, 40/125 D, 28 M; 272/8 R, 8 D, 8 M; 350/181, 293; 35/35 E [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,699,689 1/1929 Curry 350/293 X 1,901,661 3/1933 MacCourt et a1. 40/129 B X 2,148,279 2/1939 Sandberg 40/l24.1

2,697,380 12/1954 Wyser 350/293 X 2,984,920 3/1961 Acosta et a1 40/124.l 3,711,697 l/1973 Boyle et a1 272/8 D 3,785,819 l/l974 Barnes 350/181 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 581,650 10/1946 Great Britain 40/130 B OTHER PUBLICATIONS Time, Jan. 1, 1965, Article on Queen Christina of Sweden, lower right photograph showing an anamorphic display.

Primary Examiner-Harland S. Skogquist Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney, Agent, or F irmCurtis, Morris & Safford [5 7] ABSTRACT A distorted or anamorphic image is placed on one panel of a foldable display card assembly and viewed as a normal image on curved collapsible mirror reflector supported by the other panels comprising the said card.

12 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENIEBSEP 1 man SHEET 1 BF 2 ANAMORPHIC GREETING CARDS AND OTHER STRUCTURAL GRAPHIC PIECES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to structural graphic pieces, such as greeting cards, pop-up books and other folded brochures, having one or more anamorphic representations which become visible upon the opening of the device.

There has been developed a technique for producing anamorphic representations which is extremely rapid in action and highly efficient. One technique of this type is disclosed in Clarence A. Barnes and Alan Fontaine U.S. patent application Ser. No. 234,723 filed Mar. 15, 1972. As more fully described in that application, anamorphic representations comprise images which have been distorted to such an extent that they are unrecognizable unless viewed with a proper restoring device such as a cylindrical or conical mirror. Such representations initially were created by a painstaking drawing procedure by the artist, but more recently they were made through the use of photographic principles employing anamorphotic lenses or mirrors.

Greeting cards, pop-up books and other imprinted brochures for advertising, announcement or entertainment purposes are exceedingly popular and widely utilized. Many types of cards, brochures and pop-up books include two or more sheets or other flaps which are folded over one another and thereby hinged along a predetermined fold line. In some cases one of the flaps supports a pop-up device, such that when the piece is unfolded the device moves outwardly and attracts additional attention. The folding of the pieces not only compacts their size for mailing purposes but also affords a provocative or continuity factor of having a separate message on the cover flap with a correlating or surprise message or picture copy on one or more of the other flaps.

SUMMARY One general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved greeting card or other structural graphic piece having an anamorphic representation which becomes visible upon the opening of the piece.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide such a structural graphic piece in which the anamorphic representation not only is visible but becomes intelligible upon the opening of the piece.

Another object of this invention is to provide a structural graphic piece of the character indicated having a pop-up feature.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel structural graphic piece which is readily foldable and is economical to manufacture.

In one illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is provided a greeting card or other brochure which comprises a plurality of flaps hingedly interconnected along fold lines and movable between a closed folded position and an open position. The flaps include a back flap, a front flap hinged to the back flap along a first fold line, and a pair of cover flaps hinged to the back flap along respective second and third fold lines. A pop-up device is supported by the back flap, and this device is provided with a surface which is substantially flat when the flaps are closed but has a distinct curvature when the flaps are in their open position. A tab or other connecting member between one of the cover flaps and the pop-up device is responsive to the movement of the cover flap toward the open position for producing the distinct curvature in the surface.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, the brochure includes an anamorphotic representation which becomes intelligible upon the opening of the brochure. The anamorphotic representation advantageously is located on a flap other than the flap which supports the pop-up" device, and it preferably is disposed on the front flap.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, in certain particularly important embodiments, the curved pop-up" surface is of reflective material. When the flaps are in their open position, the surface is located to reflect an intelligible reproduction of the anamorphotic representation.

In accordance with a further feature of certain advantageous arrangements in accordance with the invention, in the open position the axis of curvature of the reflective surface is substantially perpendicular to the anamorphotic representation. With this arrangement, any unwanted distortion which might otherwise be introduced as a result of improper angular orientation with respect to the reflective surface is substantially reduced.

The present invention, as well as further objects and features thereof, will be understood more clearly and fully from the following description of certain preferred embodiments, when read with reference to the accom panying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a folded greeting card in accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the greeting card of FIG. 1 in a partially open position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the greeting card in its fully open position.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a pop-up device utilized in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of an alternative pop-up device utilized in a greeting card in accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but showing a greeting card which includes the pop-up device of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS lines 17 and 18. The fold lines 17 and 18 are disposed along the opposed edges of the back flap 10 and extend in directions perpendicular to that of the fold line 12.

An anamorphotic representation 20 is located on the front flap 11 in a nonvisible position when the flaps are folded in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1. For purposes of clarity and ease of illustration, the anamorphotic representations shown in the drawings are less distorted than would usually be the case. In the illustrated embodiments the representation 20 is produced photographically in accordance with the technique disclosed in the Barnes and Fontaine US. patent application Ser. No. 234,723 referred to above, although in other advantageous arrangements the representation may com prise an artistic drawing or other nonphotographic device. The representation lies in a single flat plane and is oriented on the front flap such that in the open position of the greeting card, that is, the position shown in either full or dash lines in FIG. 4, it is on the side of the front flap which faces the back flap.

Supported by the back flap is a pop-up38 device 25. The pop-up device 25 is formed from a sheet of paper or cardboard which is cut to form a trapezoid. When the greeting card is in its open position, the device 25 is in the form of a portion of an inverted truncated cone 26 and resembles a drinking glass or tumbler, while the device is substantially flat when the cover flaps and 16 are closed. In the open position the device 25 has a distinct curvature which in crosssection is in the form of an arc of a circle.

The exposed face of the pop-up device 25 is provided with a reflective surface 27. This surface illustratively may be formed by laminating mylar, mirrored silver acetate, etc., to a paper substrate or by using a silvered aluminum sheet as the material for the device. The surface 27 is highly reflective and exhibits a mirror-like finish.

An integrally formed tab 28 extends along one edge of the pop-up device 25 and is adhesively or otherwise affixed to the adjacent face of the back flap 10. A second tab 30 is folded back along the other edge of the device 25. As best shown in FIG. 6, this latter tab extends behind the reflective surface 27 through an aperture or slit 31 at the point at which the tab 28 meets the surface 27. The tab 30 proceeds across the back flap 10, and its free end 32 (FIG. 4) is secured to the cover flap 16.

To unfold the greeting card the front flap 11 is first moved from the position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the position illustrated in FIG. 2, thus exposing the anamorphotic representation 20. The two cover flaps 15 and 16 are then pivoted away fro the back flap 10 to either the partially open position illustrated in full lines in FIG. 4 or to the fully open position illustrated in dash lines. As the cover flap 16 is swung outwardly, the connecting tab 30 likewise moves relative to the back flap l0 and draws the remotely located edge of the popup device 25 toward the stationary tab 28. The device 25 is thus carried from its substantially flat closed position to the FIG. 4 position in which the reflective surface 27 is provided with a distinct curvature. In the partially open position the cross-section of the device 25 approximates a semi-circle of comparatively large radius, while in the fully open position the radius of curvature is somewhat smaller. In both of these positions, the axis of curvature, shown schematically at 35, is at least approximately perpendicular to the anamorphotic representation 20.

In the open position the reflective surface 27 is located on the front flap II in position to reflect an intelligible reproduction 36 of the anamorphotic representation 20. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the representation 20 is of semi-circular configuration with a comparatively small inner radius and a larger outer radius. For optimum clarity the representation 20 should be at least approximately concentric with the axis of curvature 35 of the reflective surface 27. The arragement is such that when the greeting card is opened the user observes the unintelligible anamorphotic representation on the front flap of the card and sees a quite accurate reproduction of the representation by looking at the. curved reflective surface.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are illustrative of a greeting card in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention. The greeting card of these Figures includes several features which are substantially the same as the greeting card described heretofore such as the back flap 10, the front flap 11, the cover flaps 15 and 16 and the anamorphotic reproduction 20. In the card of FIGS. 7 and 8, however, there is provided an alternative pop-up" device 40 in the form of a portion of a right circular cylinder. A reflective surface 41 on the outer face of the device 40 is substantially flat when the flaps are closed but has a distinct curvature when the flaps are in their open position (the position shown in FIG. 8). The axis of curvature of the surface 41 is at least approximately perpendicular to the anamorphotic representation 20.

Upon the opening of the greeting card of FIGS. 7 and 8 the cover flap l6 draws the tab 30 along the inner face of the back flap 10 to provide the desired curvature in the reflective surface 41. An intelligible reproduction of the anamorphotic representation 20 may then be viewed by observing its reflection in the surface 41.

It will of course be understood that in each of the illustrated embodiments of the invention the anamorphic reproduction 20 may be imprinted or detachably secured in a fixed or shiftable relationship on the front flap 11. The representation 20 advantageously lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of curvature of the reflective surface when the greeting card is in its open position. This relationship need not be precise, and even in cases in which the representation forms an angle which is greater or less than with respect to the axis of curvature an intelligible reproduction will appear by viewing the reflective surface.

In each of the illustrated embodiments of the invention the reflective surface is of semi-circular crosssection when the pop-up device is in its open position. In other advantageous arrangements the crosssection of the surface may describe different arcs and in some cases may form a complete circle. In these latter embodiments the pop-up device is substantially flat when closed but forms a right circular cylinder or cone when opened such that the reflective surface is in position to reflect true reproductions of two or more anamorphic representations disposed on separate flaps around the base of the surface.

The anamorphic representation 20 illustrated in the drawings describes an arc of around the axis of curvature of the reflective surface. Depending upon the design of the particular greeting card or other brochure, however, the reproduction may be substantially more or less than 180 in its circumference.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with particular reference to greeting cards and brochures, it will be readily apparent that in many instances it is equally applicable to other forms of structural graphic pieces. As an illustration, the invention may be incorporated in pop-up books for educational or entertainment purposes, for example, in which a curved reflective surface pops up when the book is opened to reflect an intelligible reproduction of an anamorphic reproduction on one or both'of the exposed pages. Various other uses for the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the present disclosure.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described, or portions thereof, it being recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A structural graphic piece which comprises, in

combination:

a plurality of flanges hingedly interconnected along at least one fold line and movable between a closed folded position and an open position;

an anamorphic representation on a first of the flaps;

means supported by one of the other flaps and including a reflective surface which has a distinct curvature when the flaps are in their open position, the reflective surface being located in position to reflect an intelligible reproduction of the anamorphic representation; and means responsive to the movement of the flaps toward the open position for producing said distinct curvature in said reflective surface. 2. A structural graphic piece which comprises, in combination;

a plurality of interconnected flaps movable between a closed position and an open position; an anamorphic representation on one of the flaps in a nonvisible location when the flaps are in their folded position; pop up device supported by another of the flaps and including a reflective surface which has a distinct curvature when the flaps are in their open position; the reflective surface being located in position to reflect an intelligible reproduction of the anamorphic representation; and means responsive to the movement of the flaps toward the open position for producing said distinct curvature in said reflective surface. 3. A structural graphic piece as defined in claim 2, in which the reflective surface is of conical configuration.

4. A structural graphic piece in claim 2, in which the reflective surface comprises a portion of a right circular cylinder.

5. A brochure such as a greeting card which comprises, in combination:

a plurality of interconnected flaps movable between a closed position and an open position, the flaps'including a back flap, a front flap hinged to the back 6 flap, and at least one additional flap hinged to the back flap;

an anamorphotic representation on the inside of the front flap;

a pop-up device supported by the inside of the back flap and including a reflective surface which is substantially flat when the flaps are closed but has a distinct curvature when the flaps are in their open position, the reflective surface in the open position being located to reflect an intelligible reproduction of the anamorphotic representation; and

means responsive to the movement of the additional flap toward the open position for producing said distinct curvature in said reflective surface.

6. A brochure as defined in claim 5, in which the anamorphotic representation is of generally semicircular configuration.

7. A brochure such as a greeting card which comprises, in combination:

a plurality of flaps hingedly interconnected along fold lines and movable between a closed folded position and an open position, the flaps including a back flap, a front flap hinged to the back flap along a first fold line, and at least one additional flap hinged to the back flap along a second fold line;

an anamorphotic representation on the front flap in a nonvisible location when the flaps are in their folded position;

a pop-up device supported by the inside of the back flap and including a reflective surface which is substantially flat when the flaps are closed but has a distinct curvature when the flaps are in their open position, the reflective surface in the open position having an axis of curvature which is at least approximately perpendicular to the anamorphotic representation on the front flap and being located to reflect an intelligible reproduction of the anamorphotic representation; and

means responsive to the movement of the additional flap toward the open position for producing said distinct curvature in said reflective surface.

8. A brochure such as a greeting card which comprises, in combination:

a plurality of flaps hingedly interconnected along fold lines and movable between a closed folded position and an open position, the flaps including a back flap, a front flap hinged to the back flap along a first fold line, and a pair of cover flaps hinged to the back flap along respective second and third fold lines;

an anamorphotic representation on the front flap in a nonvisible location when the flaps are in their folded position;

a pop-up device supported by the inside of the back flap and including a reflective surface which is substantially flat when the flaps are closed but has a distinct curvature of conical configuration when the flaps are in their open position, the reflective surface in the open position being located to reflect an intelligible reproduction of the anamorphotic representation; and

means responsive to the movement of one of the cover flaps toward the open position for producing said conical configuration in said reflective surface.

9. A brochure such as a greeting card which comprises, in combination:

a plurality of flaps hingedly interconnected along fold lines and movable between a closed folded position and an open position, the flaps including a back flap, a front flap hinged to the back flap along a first fold line, and a pair of cover flaps hinged to the back flap along respective second and third fold first fold line, and a pair of cover flaps hinged to the back flap along respective second and third fold lines, the second and third fold lines being parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first fold lines; line;

an anamorphotic representation on the front flap in an anamorphotic representation of semi-circular a nonvisible location when the flaps are in their configuration on the front flap inanonvisible locafolded position; tion when the flaps are in their folded position;

a pop-up" device supported by the inside of the a pop-up device supported by the inside of the back flap and including a reflective surface which back flap and including a reflective surface which is substantially flat when the flaps are closed but is substantially flat when the flaps are closed but has a distinct curvature of cylindrical configuration has a distinct curvature when the flaps are in their when the flaps are in their open position, the reflecopen position, the reflective surface in the open potive surface in the open position having an axis of sition having an axis of curvature which is at least curvature which is at least approximately perpenapproximately perpendicular to the anamorphotic dicular to the anamorphotic representation on the representation on the front flap and being located front flap and being located to reflect an intelligible to reflect an intelligible reproduction of the anamreproduction of the anamorphotic representation; orphotic representation; and and means responsive to the movement of one of the means responsive to the movement of one of the cover flaps toward the open position for producing cover flaps toward the open position for producing said distinct curvature in said reflective surface. said cylindrical configuration in said reflective sur- 11. A brochure as defined in claim 10, in which the face. means for producing said distinct curvature comprises 10. A brochure such as a greeting card which coman elongate tab affixed at one end to the pop-up deprises, in combination: vice and at the other end to said one cover flap.

a plurality of flaps hingedly interconnected along fold 12. A brochure as defined in claim 10, in which the lines and movable between a closed folded position pop-up device is in a nonvisible location when the and an open position, the flaps including a back cover flaps are in the closed position. flap, a front flap hinged to the back flap along a 

1. A structural graphic piece which comprises, in combination: a plurality of flanges hingedly interconnected along at least one fold line and movable between a closed folded position and an open position; an anamorphic representation on a first of the flaps; means supported by one of the other flapS and including a reflective surface which has a distinct curvature when the flaps are in their open position, the reflective surface being located in position to reflect an intelligible reproduction of the anamorphic representation; and means responsive to the movement of the flaps toward the open position for producing said distinct curvature in said reflective surface.
 2. A structural graphic piece which comprises, in combination; a plurality of interconnected flaps movable between a closed position and an open position; an anamorphic representation on one of the flaps in a nonvisible location when the flaps are in their folded position; a ''''pop-up'''' device supported by another of the flaps and including a reflective surface which has a distinct curvature when the flaps are in their open position; the reflective surface being located in position to reflect an intelligible reproduction of the anamorphic representation; and means responsive to the movement of the flaps toward the open position for producing said distinct curvature in said reflective surface.
 3. A structural graphic piece as defined in claim 2, in which the reflective surface is of conical configuration.
 4. A structural graphic piece in claim 2, in which the reflective surface comprises a portion of a right circular cylinder.
 5. A brochure such as a greeting card which comprises, in combination: a plurality of interconnected flaps movable between a closed position and an open position, the flaps including a back flap, a front flap hinged to the back flap, and at least one additional flap hinged to the back flap; an anamorphotic representation on the inside of the front flap; a ''''pop-up'''' device supported by the inside of the back flap and including a reflective surface which is substantially flat when the flaps are closed but has a distinct curvature when the flaps are in their open position, the reflective surface in the open position being located to reflect an intelligible reproduction of the anamorphotic representation; and means responsive to the movement of the additional flap toward the open position for producing said distinct curvature in said reflective surface.
 6. A brochure as defined in claim 5, in which the anamorphotic representation is of generally semicircular configuration.
 7. A brochure such as a greeting card which comprises, in combination: a plurality of flaps hingedly interconnected along fold lines and movable between a closed folded position and an open position, the flaps including a back flap, a front flap hinged to the back flap along a first fold line, and at least one additional flap hinged to the back flap along a second fold line; an anamorphotic representation on the front flap in a nonvisible location when the flaps are in their folded position; a ''''pop-up'''' device supported by the inside of the back flap and including a reflective surface which is substantially flat when the flaps are closed but has a distinct curvature when the flaps are in their open position, the reflective surface in the open position having an axis of curvature which is at least approximately perpendicular to the anamorphotic representation on the front flap and being located to reflect an intelligible reproduction of the anamorphotic representation; and means responsive to the movement of the additional flap toward the open position for producing said distinct curvature in said reflective surface.
 8. A brochure such as a greeting card which comprises, in combination: a plurality of flaps hingedly interconnected along fold lines and movable between a closed folded position and an open position, the flaps including a back flap, a front flap hinged to the back flap along a first fold line, and a pair of cover flaps hinged to the back flap along respective second and third fold lines; an anamorphotic representation on the front flap in a nonvisible location when the flaps are in their folded pOsition; a ''''pop-up'''' device supported by the inside of the back flap and including a reflective surface which is substantially flat when the flaps are closed but has a distinct curvature of conical configuration when the flaps are in their open position, the reflective surface in the open position being located to reflect an intelligible reproduction of the anamorphotic representation; and means responsive to the movement of one of the cover flaps toward the open position for producing said conical configuration in said reflective surface.
 9. A brochure such as a greeting card which comprises, in combination: a plurality of flaps hingedly interconnected along fold lines and movable between a closed folded position and an open position, the flaps including a back flap, a front flap hinged to the back flap along a first fold line, and a pair of cover flaps hinged to the back flap along respective second and third fold lines; an anamorphotic representation on the front flap in a nonvisible location when the flaps are in their folded position; a ''''pop-up'''' device supported by the inside of the back flap and including a reflective surface which is substantially flat when the flaps are closed but has a distinct curvature of cylindrical configuration when the flaps are in their open position, the reflective surface in the open position having an axis of curvature which is at least approximately perpendicular to the anamorphotic representation on the front flap and being located to reflect an intelligible reproduction of the anamorphotic representation; and means responsive to the movement of one of the cover flaps toward the open position for producing said cylindrical configuration in said reflective surface.
 10. A brochure such as a greeting card which comprises, in combination: a plurality of flaps hingedly interconnected along fold lines and movable between a closed folded position and an open position, the flaps including a back flap, a front flap hinged to the back flap along a first fold line, and a pair of cover flaps hinged to the back flap along respective second and third fold lines, the second and third fold lines being parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first fold line; an anamorphotic representation of semi-circular configuration on the front flap in a nonvisible location when the flaps are in their folded position; a ''''pop-up'''' device supported by the inside of the back flap and including a reflective surface which is substantially flat when the flaps are closed but has a distinct curvature when the flaps are in their open position, the reflective surface in the open position having an axis of curvature which is at least approximately perpendicular to the anamorphotic representation on the front flap and being located to reflect an intelligible reproduction of the anamorphotic representation; and means responsive to the movement of one of the cover flaps toward the open position for producing said distinct curvature in said reflective surface.
 11. A brochure as defined in claim 10, in which the means for producing said distinct curvature comprises an elongate tab affixed at one end to the ''''pop-up'''' device and at the other end to said one cover flap.
 12. A brochure as defined in claim 10, in which the ''''pop-up'''' device is in a nonvisible location when the cover flaps are in the closed position. 